Automatic valve for sewer-pipes



Patentedept. l, 1885.

UNITED STATES Y THOMAS L. MCKEEN, OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOlVlA'l'lC VALVE FOR SEWER-PIPES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 325,553, dated September l, 1885.

Application filed February 3, 1885: (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS L. MCKEEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Easton, in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Valves for Sewer-Pipes; and I do 'hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, which willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference loeing had to the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this specication,and in which- Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a portion of awaste-pipe equipped with my iinproved automatic valve. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the same, takenon the line :c :v in Fig. I and Fig. 3 :is a cross-section of the lever,taken on the line y y in Fig. l.

The same letters refer to the saine parts in all the figures.

This invention relates to an improved automatic or self-acting valve for sewer-pipes, having for its object to preventthe sewer-gas from ascending through the pipe into the rooms of the building from which the said pipe is an outlet; and it has for its object to provide a device of this class which shall possess superior advantages in point of simplicity, certainty of action, and general efficiency.

Vith these ends in View the invention consists in the improved construction and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings hereto annexed, A. designates a pipe-section,of cast-iron or other suitable material,the upper end of which is ilanged to receive the upward continuation of the waste-pipe, and the lower end of which has an inward-projecting annular bead or ilange,

G, and having a rounded upper surface, K, which will not only readily shed water, but also prevent solid substances, such as paper and the like, from lodging thereon.

The pipe-section L, next below the section A, is provided at its upper edge with atlange, M, connected by bolts M with a iiange or lugs, M2, at the lower end of the said section A. Said section L is 'formed with a laterallyextending vertical bulge or recess, N, into which the outer end or arm of the lever I extends. Suitably connected to the said outer arm by means of a rod, O, is a weight, P, the

upper end of which is tapering and rounded,

in order to prevent solid substances from lodging thereon. Vith a like object in view the lever I is, in cross-section, shaped as will be seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings, with an upper oval or rounded surface and with concave curved sides and anarrow bottom. The weight l? should loe so proportioned as to slightly overbalance the valve and keep the latter automatically in a closed position.

Q designates a small apron or deiiector, which is hinged in a transverse position directly in front of thelugs HH,between which the lever I is hinged. The lower edge of the said apron is curved or concave, as shown at It, so as to conform to the upper curved surface of the lever I, on which it rests. This apron or deflector serves effectually to prevent paper and other solid substances from lodging betweenthc lugs H H and the hinge of the lever I. v

The upper end of the bulge or recess N of the pipe section L is provided with an opening, S, from which a pipe, T, may lead to a chimney or to some other outlet for the noX- ious gases. This escape-pipe will usually lead through the hath-room, where the water-closet is situated, and under the ceiling of this room, (shown at U in Fig. I of the drawings.) The said pipe is provided with an inverted funnel, V, .under which is located a gals-jet, W, or other source of heat, which creates an upward draft or current through the funnel and escape-pipe that serves to ventilate the room and to carry off all unpleasant odors.

The operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed. 1When ICO the pipe is hushed, the weight of the wastewater upon the lvalve will overbalance the weight I), and cause the valve to swing open, thus permitting the Water and waste material to escape. The valve will then again be automatically closed by the action of the weight P at the outer end of lever I. VThe device is simple in construction and easily placed in position for operation.

In the detailed construction-of this device, various alterations may be made without materially altering the result. Thns,for instance, the pipe-sections A and L might be combined in a single piece or casting. I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein described, but reserve to myself the right to all such modifications as may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I am aware that it is not new to construct weighted and hinged lever-valves for sewerpipes, and I do not claim such construction, broadly; but,

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States The combination of the sewerpi pe, the valve seat ring arranged in the same and having downward-extending lugs, the valve-,carrying lever pivoted between the said lugs, and an apron or defiector hinged in a transverse position directly in front of the said lugs, and having concave or curved lower edge resting` loosely upon the correspondingly-shaped upper surface of the valve-carrying lever, substantially as and for thel purpose herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto aixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS L. MCKEEN.

Witnesses:

L. L. FisLER, JOHN S. NOBLE. 

